Iran judiciary issued verdict in Rezaian case

An Iranian court has handed down a verdict in the espionage trial of jailed Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, the semiofficial news agency ISNA reported on Sunday, quoting the judiciary spokesman.

Rezaian, an Iranian-American Washington Post correspondent in Tehran, was detained by the Iranian government, along with his wife and two others on July 22, 2014.

In an interview with CNN’s “The Lead” host Jake Tapper, Ali Rezaian said his jailed brother was expected to speak with his mother from Iran, where it was already Saturday, the 445th day of the reporter’s incarceration after being charged and tried for espionage and other crimes. “There is still the possibility of this ruling being appealed, and it is not final”.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie did not give any details about the verdict. He said he did not know if the verdict had been given to Rezaian or his lawyer, Leila Ahsan. “We’re monitoring the situation closely, and we continue to call for all charges against Jason to be dropped and for him to be immediately released”.

“To my knowledge, Jason is a man of peace and great faith, a man whose dedication and respect for the Iranian people is evident in his work”, Ali said in a religiously worded statement issued in March.

During his incarceration, Jason Rezaian has lost almost 50 pounds and suffered several significant infections, physical strain, and prolonged psychological abuse.